Olympic figure skater dies aged 20 after 'falling from window'

Olympic figure skater Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya has died aged 20.

Alexandrovskaya, 20, was born in Russia but represented Australia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, with her skating partner Harley Windsor.

The cause of the Alexandrovskaya’s death has not yet been disclosed, but reports in Russia say she died after falling from a window.

Windsor and Alexandrovskaya won the 2017 world junior title. Alexandrovskaya retired from the sport in February after sustaining several injuries.

Windsor, Australia’s first Indigenous athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics, said he was ‘devastated’ by the news of Alexandrovskaya’s death.

‘The amount we had achieved during our partnership is something I can never forget and will always hold close to my heart,’ he said in an Instagram post.

Ian Chesterman, chef de mission for the Australian team in Pyeongchang, said the news was a terrible blow for all those who knew the skater.

‘It is enormously sad to lose Katia, who was a vibrant and talented person and an incredible athlete,’ Chesterman said.

‘She was quiet and humble in her manner but incredibly determined to be the best she could be. Life since the Games has not been easy for her and this is another timely reminder of just how fragile life is.’

It is the second death of an Australian Winter OIympian in 10 days.

Alex Pullin, a two-time world champion snowboarder and three-time Olympian, drowned while spearfishing on July 8 on the Gold Coast north of Brisbane.

‘Katia’s death is another blow to our winter sports community who are still reeling from our loss of Pullin,’ Chesterman said.

Geoff Lipshut, chief executive of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, said Alexandrovskaya has a special place in the country’s sports history.

‘Katia and Harley were Australia’s first figure skating world champions,’ Lipshut said. ‘She came to Australia to fulfill her sporting dreams.

‘The news today is so sad, my thoughts are with Katia’s family in Russia, Harley and the skating community in Australia. I will remember Katia as a young person of great talent and remarkable potential.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article